Alchemy People- Gillian Lee Smith

Above: Gillian with some of her creations at the Sneinton Artists' Showcase 2011

Inset: featured in Local Alchemy magazine with her costume designs, Spring 2007

"The
Alchemy Fund awarded me funding to start my costume design business – but using
the same equipment I started doing artwork again – the business changed. As
well as the money, it helped me to establish what I wanted to do – I also got
funding and business advice from the Renwal Trust. Everything I gained from
Alchemy I’ve now been developing in my business as a freelance artist. I’m now
exhibiting in galleries, doing craft fairs and selling my work abroad through
the internet. I write a blog about me – the artist behind the work- and run an
internet shop on Etsy which opens up a global marketplace. If it wasn’t for
Alchemy, I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing now."

Gillian
now lives in Basford, but still brings her work to the Sneinton Artists’
Showcases at Green’s Mill. Her website with links to her blog and online store
is